JPH10213152A - Friction sliding clutch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clutch having a means for changing normal force acting between the conical faces, coming in contact with each other, in order to change maximum torque transmitted from one member to the other member. SOLUTION: One member between a first member 21 and a second member is formed in such shape as to make at least conical faces on one side between first conical faces 35, 36 and second conical faces 41a, 41b radially displaceable according to the change of normal force acting between the first conical faces 35, 36 and second conical faces 41a, 41b. One member therefore acts as an element provided with spring function.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of slip clutches which limit the amount of torque transmitted from one member to another, and more particularly, to at least one frusto-conical surface. The present invention relates to an improved friction sliding clutch in which two frusto-conical surfaces are abutted against each other so that they can be displaced in response to a change in a normal force acting between the frusto-conical surfaces.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A slip clutch is usually used between two members that can rotate relative to each other. When these two members are operatively connected by the slip clutch, the amount of torque transmitted from one member to the other member is limited. A frusto-conical clutch surface that is axially loaded is well known and has a unique, effective multiplication of the axial load force applied to obtain the frictional normal force acting on the sliding surface of the clutch member. Used for abilities. US Patent No. 8047
No. 78, No. 1373810, No. 3648483, No. 4652249, No. 5163541, No. 27631
No. 41 discloses various types of friction clutches having opposing frusto-conical surfaces acting between the two members. All of the cited patents have some type of axial spring or resilient member that acts in series with the load adjustment mechanism, thereby reducing the criticality of the adjustment and resulting from clutch slippage. Changes in the target slip torque of the clutch as a result of thermal expansion are minimized.

However, by changing the normal force acting between the two frusto-conical surfaces, the amount of friction between the frusto-conical surfaces and thus the maximum torque transmitted from one member to the other is reduced. If this is the case, prior art devices adjust or prepare for radial displacement of the frustoconical surface in response to changes in the normal force acting between the frustoconical surfaces. It doesn't seem possible.

[0004]

The embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustrating the invention and are not intended to be limiting. In the following, corresponding parts, members, and surfaces of the embodiment are indicated by reference numerals in parentheses. The present invention generally provides the following improved friction slip clutch device 20. That is, the transmission of torque from the first member 21 to the second member 22 is performed in a unique manner, and when the torque reaches a predetermined value, the relative rotation (that is, slip) of the two members is selectively performed. It is a device that can be used.

[0005] The first member 21 has a first portion 24 having a first frusto-conical surface disposed opposite the second member.
The second member 22 includes second portions 31a, 31b having a second frustoconical surface concentric with the first frustoconical surface and configured to abut the first frustoconical surface. I have. The improved friction clutch device also includes an adjustment member 56 attached to one of the first and second members, the adjustment member causing the associated portion 31 on the one member.
The movement in the direction a, 31b or in the direction opposite to the relevant part is controlled.

[0006] The improved friction clutch device also includes an element that functions as an elastic spring (ie, a portion of the previously described members,
Or an additional member). The resilient spring is actuated by the movement of an adjusting member with respect to the relevant part, thereby producing a proportional change in the normal force acting between the first and second frustoconical surfaces.

[0007] In this improved friction sliding clutch device, the following is generally considered. That is, one of the first and second members responds to a change in normal force acting between the first and second frustoconical surfaces,
The frusto-conical surface is configured and arranged to allow radial displacement of at least one of the frusto-conical surfaces, whereby the one member acts as the element acting as a spring And the radial displacement in response to a change in the normal force across the adjustment range is much greater than the displacement due to thermal expansion due to heat generation during relative slip of the frusto-conical surface. It is to be.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, the first member 21 comprises:
It has a first shaft 23 and a first ring 24. A first ring having a first frustoconical surface, mounted on a first shaft,
A radial displacement movement is performed with respect to the first axis. Second member 2
2 has a second shaft 30 and second rings 31a and 31b. The second ring has a second frusto-conical surface, is mounted on the second shaft, and performs a radial displacement movement with respect to the second shaft.

The first ring is configured such that the radius of the circular line of the first frusto-conical surface changes proportionally in response to a change in normal force acting between the frusto-conical surfaces. In addition, the responsiveness of the radius to the normal force forms the spring constant of the element acting as a spring.

In a preferred embodiment, one of the first and second members has an axial abutment surface 48, at least one of which is operable. Therefore, it is designed to be axially compressed between the contact surface and the adjusting member, whereby the normal force acting between the frusto-conical surfaces changes, and at least one of the frusto-conical surfaces is changed. Said radial displacement occurs.

[0011]

Accordingly, it is an overall object of the present invention to provide an improved friction sliding clutch.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved friction sliding clutch having opposing frusto-conical surfaces operably configured to abut each other, and also the maximum torque transmitted from one member to the other. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a clutch having means for changing the normal force acting between the frusto-conical surfaces in order to change the force.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved friction sliding clutch as described below. That is, by providing a member having a frusto-conical surface and means for displacing the member in the axial direction, the frusto-conical surface causes a corresponding radial displacement, and the radial displacement is adjusted. , Wherein the member functions as a spring.

[0014]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the foregoing and following written description, drawings and appended claims.

At the outset, it must be clearly understood that identical components, parts and surfaces are designated by the same reference numerals in the figures. Because these parts,
The parts and surfaces are described below, and also in terms of the entire written description, in which this detailed description is an integral component. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read in conjunction with the specification (eg, diagonal lines, configuration of components, proportions, degrees, etc.) and are a part of the entire language description of the present invention. Must be seen. Terms such as “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “upper”, “lower”, and adjectives and adverbs of these terms (eg, “horizontal”, “right” ”,“ Up ”
Etc.) simply indicate the orientation relative to the illustrated device when the reader faces a particular drawing. Similarly, the terms “inner” and “outer” also refer to the orientation of a surface relative to the axis of the surface or an extension thereof, or,
If appropriate, it refers to the orientation of the plane with respect to the axis of rotation.

Referring back to the drawings, and more particularly, FIG. 1 shows an improved friction and slip clutch device according to the present invention, a currently preferred embodiment of which is generally designated by the numeral 20. This device transmits torque from the left, generally denoted by reference numeral 21, ie, the first member, to the right, ie, second member, generally denoted by reference numeral 22, and the transmitted torque is adjustable. When the value becomes equal to a predetermined value, relative rotation (slipping) between the members can be selectively enabled.

In this preferred embodiment, the first member has a horizontal elongated first shaft 23 and a first or outer ring 24. The first shaft 23 has a tubular hollow cylindrical portion 25, which ends in a radially enlarged portion 26 at the right end portion. The enlarged diameter portion 26 has a plurality of spline grooves 27 facing inward and spaced in the circumferential direction. These spline grooves 27 mesh with spline teeth 28. The right end portion of the first shaft 23 is supported by a bearing 29.

The second member 22 has a horizontal elongated second tubular shaft 30. The second shaft 30 is provided with a pair of left and right second rings, that is, an inner ring 31 at an axial interval.
a and 31b.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first ring 24 is a ring-shaped or ring-shaped member, and the ring-shaped or ring-shaped member includes an annular vertical left end face 32 and an annular vertical right end face. 33, an outwardly facing horizontal cylindrical surface 34, an inwardly facing left truncated conical surface 35 extending diagonally inward rightward from the inner edge of the left end surface 32, and an inwardly directed frustoconical surface 35 to the right. A right truncated conical surface 36 facing inward and extending diagonally outward. A plurality of teeth 3 provided at intervals in the circumferential direction
8 extend radially from the first ring outer peripheral surface 34 and are received in slots or grooves 27 of the first shaft, respectively. Thus, the first ring is forced to rotate with the first axis about a horizontal axis xx by a spline connection formed between the teeth 38 and the groove 27,
The inside of the groove 27 is movable inward and outward in the radial direction with respect to the first axis.

The second ring 31a is an annular member. The annular member includes an annular vertical left end surface 39a, an annular vertical right end surface 40a, and an outer right facing truncated conical surface 41a connecting the outer edges of these left and right end surfaces. And an inward horizontal cylindrical surface 42a connecting the inner edges of these left and right end surfaces. A plurality of circumferentially spaced spline teeth 43a extend inward from the cylindrical surface 42a.

The second ring 31b is a mirror image of the second ring 31a. Therefore, in order to avoid duplication, corresponding portions and surfaces of the second ring on the right are given the same reference numerals with the suffix b to distinguish them from the second ring 31a.

The second shaft 22 is a horizontal and elongated hollow or tubular member, and the tubular member has an annular vertical left end surface 4.
4, an outwardly extending horizontal cylindrical surface 45 extending rightward from the left end surface 44, a leftwardly directed annular vertical surface 46, an outwardly directed horizontal cylindrical surface 47, a rightwardly directed annular vertical surface 48, and an outwardly directed horizontal cylinder. It has a surface 49, an external thread portion 50, and an outwardly directed horizontal cylindrical surface 51 that extends rightward from the external thread portion. As described above, the second shaft is hollow, and has an axial blind hole separated by a right-facing inner end surface 52 and a horizontal cylindrical inner surface 53 extending rightward from the inner end surface 52.

The second shaft 22 is supported by a right bearing 54,
It has a distal end suitably bearing on a left bearing 55 acting between the first shaft 21 and the second shaft 22.

An annular lock member, or adjustment member, generally designated by reference numeral 56, is screwed to the second shaft thread portion 50 and is operably configured to abut against the right end 39b of the second ring. The annular vertical left end face, that is, the adjustment face 58
have. The surfaces 46, 47, 48 of the second shaft 22 form outwardly extending annular protrusions, and the surface 48 forms a contact surface. Therefore, the adjusting member 56 is mounted on the thread portion 5.
When the adjusting surface 58 is rotated in the direction of the abutment surface 48, the two second rings 31a and 31b move toward each other in the axial direction. At this point, it should be noted that a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth 59 extend radially outward from the cylindrical surface 49 of the second shaft 22 and each of the second rings 31.
a, 31b are engaged with the grooves between the teeth 43a, 43b. Therefore, each of the second rings 31a and 31b is forcibly rotated together with the second shaft 22, but can be independently moved inward and outward in the radial direction by a spline connection portion with the second shaft 22. It is.

FIG. 3 shows the initial position of the device. In this regard, the following points must be noted. That is, an axial gap exists between the two second rings 31a and 31b, and the second rings are compressively contacted by the contact surface 48 and the adjustment surface 58. is there. It should also be noted that the frustoconical surfaces abut each other. In other words, the frusto-conical surface 41a contacts the frusto-conical surface 35 and
b is in contact with the truncated conical surface 36. These different frusto-conical surfaces are in surface contact with each other. Therefore, a frictional force is generated between these frusto-conical surfaces, and this frictional force is
It is directly proportional to the normal force acting between the frustoconical surfaces.

The normal force can be changed by simply adjusting the position of the adjusting surface 58 of the adjusting member 56 with respect to the contact surface 48. In other words, FIGS. 3 and 4
As shown, the adjustment surface 58 is
, The two second rings are driven toward each other. This action serves to increase the normal force acting between several opposing frusto-conical surfaces, and the first and second rings, respectively, are radially expanded or contracted accordingly. In other words, as seen in FIG. 4, the first ring 24 is displaced radially outward and this displacement is adjusted by the spline connections 27, 28 while the two second rings are displaced radially inward. The spline connection portions 43a, 59 and 43
b, 59. In other words, the contact surface 48
As the axial distance between the actuator and the adjustment surface 58 decreases from the distance x _{1 in} FIG. 3 to the narrower distance x ₂ in FIG. 4, this axial displacement (ie Δx = x ₁₎ , as seen in FIG. −
x ₂ ), the first ring has a constant radial spacing d ₁
Only expanded outwardly, also two second ring is reduced radially inward by a predetermined radial distance d _2. In the figures, the radial outward displacement is shown to be substantially equal to the radial inward displacement. However, the displacement amounts need not always be equal. In fact, due to the dimensions and frictional contact between the engaging teeth of the spline connection,
One of the frustoconical surfaces can be displaced more radially than the other.

In the mechanism described above, the movement of the frustoconical ring radially expanding or contracting as the frustoconical ring is driven axially together by the movement of the adjusting member 56 is adjusted. This effectively forms a deflection of the spring element acting between the member and the clutch surface. With this spring element, the decisive importance of the adjustment is smaller. Effective stiffness of the spring usually depends on the amount of radial displacement of the ring in response to changes in the normal force acting between the frustoconical surfaces over the entire adjustment range. It must be set to be much larger than the momentum caused by the thermal expansion due to the generation.

It is contemplated that the present invention may have various variations and modifications. For example, in the case of another type, only one second ring may be provided. Further, each ring may be formed integrally with the associated member. Alternatively, one ring may be formed separately from the shaft so as to be movable with respect to the shaft, and the other ring or rings may be formed integrally with the shaft. In that case, such a configuration ensures that the radial displacement is not constrained in any case. Other types of connections than spline connections may be used, for example flexures. Here, it is to be noted that the spline connection generally has the function of adjusting the radial displacement, while having the function of preventing the associated ring member from rotating with its associated axis.

Unless otherwise indicated, the dimensions and materials of the components are not considered critical (they only need to be compatible with the basic function of the slip clutch, that is to say that they wear or seize under slip conditions) Is not required). Also, the particular shape or configuration of the first and second shafts and the locking or adjusting members are not critical to the invention.

Thus, while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, and several modifications have been discussed, those skilled in the art will depart from the spirit of the invention as defined and set forth in the appended claims. Of course, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial vertical longitudinal sectional view of an improved friction sliding clutch according to the present invention. This figure shows a first member having a first shaft and a first ring, a second member having a second shaft and a second ring, and both rings and a shaft to which these rings are attached. The spline connection between is shown.

FIG. 2 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
In particular, the figure shows the spline connection between the ring and the shaft on which the ring is mounted.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view of an upper portion of the improved friction sliding clutch of FIG. 1; The positions of the first ring and the second ring when the adjusting member is at one axial position with respect to the contact stopper are shown.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view generally similar to FIG. 3; This figure shows a state in which the adjusting member has moved axially toward the contact surface, the two second rings have come close to each other, and the first ring and the second ring have been attached respectively. A state in which the shaft is displaced radially outward or inward with respect to the axis is shown.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 20 improved friction sliding clutch device 21 first member 22 second member 23 first shaft 24 first ring 25 hollow cylindrical portion of first shaft 26 enlarged end portion 27 spline groove 28 spline teeth 29 bearing 30 second shaft 31 Second ring 31a Left second ring 31b Right second ring 35, 36 Truncated conical surface 41a, 41b First ring frustoconical surface 48 Contact surface 56 Adjusting member or locking member 58 Adjusting surface

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A friction-slip clutch device, wherein the friction-slip clutch device is adapted to transmit a torque from a first member to a second member, and the torque equals an adjustable predetermined value. In this case, relative rotation between the two members is selectively enabled, and the first member includes a first frusto-conical surface disposed opposite to the second member. A second frusto-conical surface having a portion, wherein the second member comprises a second frusto-conical surface disposed concentric with and abutting the first frusto-conical surface. The friction sliding clutch device has an adjusting member attached to one of the first member and the second member, and the adjusting member is provided with the one member. Movement of approaching and separating the relevant part of the member from the related part is controlled, The sliding clutch device has an element that functions as a spring, whereby the movement of the adjusting member with respect to the relevant part is caused by a normal force acting between the first and second frusto-conical surfaces. In a type that causes a proportional change, the one member of the first member and the second member is:
A radius of at least one of the first and second frustoconical surfaces in response to a change in a normal force acting between the first and second frustoconical surfaces; An improved friction sliding clutch device configured and arranged in a shape that permits directional displacement, whereby said one member operates as said element acting as a spring. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first member has a first shaft and a first ring, and the first ring includes the first frusto-conical surface, and is attached to the first shaft. 2. The improved frictional slip clutch device according to claim 1, wherein the clutch is adapted to be displaced in a radial direction with respect to the first shaft. 3. The second member has a second shaft and a second ring, and the second ring includes the second truncated conical surface, and is attached to the second shaft, 3. The improved friction sliding clutch device according to claim 2, wherein the clutch device is adapted to move radially with respect to the second axis. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein a radius of a circular line of the first frustoconical surface changes proportionally in response to a change in the normal force.
3. An improved frictional sliding clutch device according to claim 2, wherein the first ring is configured and the response of the radius to normal force is the spring constant of the element acting as a spring. 5. The first member and the second member also have an axial contact surface, and at least one of the first portion and the second portion is in contact with the contact surface. The improved frictional sliding clutch device of claim 1, wherein the frictional sliding clutch device is configured to be axially compressed between the adjusting member and the radial displacement.